Flames fire Bob Hartley a season after he was named coach of the year

against the Calgary Flames at Gila River Arena on March 28, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona.,GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 28: Head coach Bob Hartley of the Calgary Flames looks on from the bench during third period action against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on March 28, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images)

CALGARY, Alberta -- The Calgary Flames fired Bob Hartley on Tuesday, a season after he was voted the NHL's coach of the year.

Calgary took a big step backward this year after reaching the playoffs last season. The Flames finished 35-40-7, with only Vancouver and Edmonton posting fewer wins in the rugged Western Conference.

Last season, he led the Flames to a 45-30-7 record and third place in the Pacific Division, but there was no sign of that team this season behind Johnny Gaudreau and Marc Giordano. In February, Calgary dealt forward Jiri Hudler to Florida for draft picks and sent winger David Jones to Minnesota for goalie Niklas Backstrom and a sixth-round pick.